Users Poke Fun at Microsoft's First Windows 8.1 Ad Showing the Start Button

[darael]

Microsoft rolled out the first Windows 8.1 RTM commercial a couple of days ago, trying to showcase some of the built-in features, including the Start button and the live tiles displayed on the Start screen.

While Microsoft's attempt to promote the Start button is not at all surprising given the fact that so many users have asked for this feature, it actually caused a new wave of criticism for the tech giant.

Many users who watched the first Windows 8.1 ad on YouTube criticized Microsoft for the way it decided to listen to customer feedback, explaining that its new Start button is pretty much useless since it doesn't launch a Start Menu.

“These tiles are so pathetic. Get an old Start button program and get your Windows functionality back,” one user posted after watching Microsoft's commercial talking big about the Start screen and the live tiles.

“The new Windows 8 UI looks like the panel that the male nurse is using in the movie Idiocracy,” another one continued.

The Start button saga continues at Microsoft not necessarily because users can't get over the lack of such a feature, but also because Redmond talks about the reintroduction of this particular option with every single occasion.

In fact, its key executives claim every once in a while that the return of the Start button is proof that Microsoft is listening to customer feedback, even though it's pretty obvious that not everybody is pleased with the way it works.

Third-party Start Menu apps remain users' only option when it comes to making the operating system a bit more familiar and many developers of this kind of tools are already trying to make the most of this opportunity by adding Windows 8.1 support to their very own projects.

Source

Let's hope Windows 8.2 does better.

 

[thenewoc]

Trust them to put a positive spin on it, if indeed it were true they were listening to customers, they wouldn't have removed it in the first place.

 

[paradigm]

I really wish people would just get over it. It's still a start menu, just with more functionality and a full screen interface.

Loving 8.1 on my Surface Pro.

 

[Elevon]

I really wish people would just get over it. It's still a start menu, just with more functionality and a full screen interface.

Loving 8.1 on my Surface Pro.

Exactly!... Goes to show some people can't change and need to be spoon fed,I wonder sometimes if these users should be using a PC at all.

 

[V F]

I really wish people would just get over it. It's still a start menu, just with more functionality and a full screen interface.

Loving 8.1 on my Surface Pro.

I don't think thats possible. It's nearly been a year after all.

Exactly!... Goes to show some people can't change and need to be spoon fed,I wonder sometimes if these users should be using a PC at all.

I love my start button.

 

[bartledvd]

i do not care about change but if i do not like using a new feature that has replaced an old one then why should i have to just put up with it if i have an option to change it

 

[paradigm]

i do not care about change but if i do not like using a new feature that has replaced an old one then why should i have to just put up with it if i have an option to change it

No you're right, it's the same reason that thousands of people still use Program Manager on Windows 3.11... oh wait.

 

[gareth170]

i do not care about change but if i do not like using a new feature that has replaced an old one then why should i have to just put up with it if i have an option to change it

yes that's the whole point, if u do not like using a new UI that has replaced an old one u just change it to the way u want it with either built-in options or using 3rd party programs. but the problem is some people when they don't like a change they just get hung over that 1 thing and won't see pass it even tho theres ways to change it to the way they want it.

 

[stuie]

I really wish people would just get over it. It's still a start menu, just with more functionality and a full screen interface.

Loving 8.1 on my Surface Pro.

Yeah on your surface pro im sure its great on a real pc with real users in a business environment even with the best connections and remote support its a nightmare, have you ever tried doing a remote desktop over an at best slow internet connection waiting for for the new tiles system to draw just so you can get a command prompt up to run a ping? its a nightmare yeah sure keep it on tablets and phones but please give us back our real start button so we can do our jobs effectively not all users are just users

 

[paradigm]

Yeah on your surface pro im sure its great on a real pc with real users in a business environment even with the best connections and remote support its a nightmare, have you ever tried doing a remote desktop over an at best slow internet connection waiting for for the new tiles system to draw just so you can get a command prompt up to run a ping? its a nightmare yeah sure keep it on tablets and phones but please give us back our real start button so we can do our jobs effectively not all users are just users

Sounds to me like your support skills are the problem, not the software. Quite why you'd even bother bringing up an RDP session in the first place to check something as basic as ping/tracert/pathping/routes/etc is just daft. This is what remote powershell sessions are for. I can do my job just as (if not more) effectively than I could with Windows 7, Vista, XP, 2000, NT4... You just have to keep up with the times, otherwise you're going to become as archaic (and undesirable) as the software you so tentatively cling on to.

I have absolutely no problem supporting a relatively complex infrastructure that is becoming saturated with Server 2012 and Windows 8. All my desktops, laptops, and my Surface are Windows 8 or 8.1.

 

[stuie]

Remote powershell are all well and good but in our business only a handful of sites have domains and full terminal server setups. Your thoughts are like microsofts everyone is either an end user or a 200+ user site and nothing in between. Hell some of our sites dont even have adsl, those that do are supported via remote teamviewer type access or vpn ssh access to command line linux servers

Our user base isnt internal network support but external mostly <50 user agricultural dealerships who have no interest in learning about computers and also dont have the finances or need for high expense domain setups and multirack servers. While im sure that makes my support skills sub par compared to yours you might want to consider that there are other people in support roles that have no choice but to use archaic support techniques to get the job done

 

[mmj_uk]

Most people wanted the start menu back, not just the start button... adding the start button without the menu is just silly tbh.

 

[Elevon]

Most people wanted the start menu back, not just the start button... adding the start button without the menu is just silly tbh.

You want the old start button stay with Win7 or use a third party mod but don't moan that its changed on a newer operating system ,every OS has changes and nobody is forced to use the latest OS,if you do then be prepared for changes that's my point,end of the day it's not a deal breaker and not rocket science to use Metro or even the old desktop UI.


Btw if I was like some of you guys I would still be moaning about DOS going and wanting it back,I accepted things change like my favorite good old DOS,so if I can accept and adapt with the times I'm sure you guys can.

I'm prepared for Win9,10 etc to have changes are you guys?

 

[mmj_uk]

I have stayed with Windows 7 has have most other desktop users, hence MS panicking to try and find a middle ground where they can keep Metro.

DOS > Windows UI was a vast usability improvement, start menu to metro is the complete opposite for a desktop user.

 

[iamtheoneneo]

This is all so pathetic, people cant move on at all.
Yep the tiles arent the best, but not using a decent OS over it is really gormless.

You pin stuff to the taskbar and job done...

 

[Elevon]

I have stayed with Windows 7 has have most other desktop users, hence MS panicking to try and find a middle ground where they can keep Metro.

To be fair Microsoft do make changes now and then ie DOS,Win3/3.1,Win95,Win8 but some people can't move forward and accept things don't last,changes happen even on Linux distros.

I can understand disliking something but you have to be realistic and accept things change and nothing lasts forever.

Btw if they can't handle start button changes then I can't wait to see what changes Win9,10 etc bring and their reaction,they better grab the valium now lol...

 

[Glaucus]

To be fair Microsoft do make changes now and then ie DOS,Win3/3.1,Win95,Win8 but some people can't move forward and accept things don't last,changes happen even on Linux distros.


Btw if they can't handle start button changes then I can't wait to see what changes Win9,10 etc bring and their reaction,they better grab the valium now lol...

Its just liek usual give it a few years or a slight change and people wil loove it.
Look at xp & win3.1 when it was first released. Xp is the best example. Even petitions to get rid of it. Then it goes on to be one of the most sucessful os of all time.
Everyone hates changed to begin with, people soon get used to it and wonder what they were moaning about.

 

[theheyes]

Seriously, somebody wrote an article based on YOUTUBE comments? That is utterly ridiculous.

 

[Deleted member 77746]

Latest rumour windows 8.2 to bring back start menu and metro is going bye bye.

 

[Raumarik]

Hate to say it but I really like Windows 8 and so does my Windows XP mad 69 year old dad.

Trust me if he can manage it nobody has any excuse

Minor changes for me with or without a start button wouldn't bother me either way.